gmo answers: get to know gmos · gmos are crops developed with genetic engineering, a more precise...
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GMO Answers: Get to Know GMOs
Introducing GMO Answers
Answering Consumers’ Questions
Social Media
Social Media
Resources: Materials, Visuals & Videos
Visit GMOAnswers.com/educational-resources to download, print or share.
Resources: Mythbusters
Visit GMOAnswers.com/educational-resources or the GMO Answers’ Pinterest page to access mythbusters.
Get to Know GMOs
1. Common Misconceptions
2. GMO Basics & Science
3. GMO Answers Resources
Topics we’ll cover:
The top five misconceptions see across social media are:
#1. If it’s extra-large, seedless, looks weird, tastes bad
and feels squishy – it must be a GMO.
#2. GMOs aren’t safe and they’re only tested
by the companies making them.
#3. There is animal DNA in GMOs.
#4. GMOs have pesticides injected into them.
#5. GMO companies force farmers to grow their crops, or
sue farmers if GMO seeds or pollen blow into their fields.
Myth-busting #1
Crops from GM seeds are studied extensively to make
sure they are safe - an average of 13 years and $136M1
Hundreds of independent studies can be researched at
Biofortified.org.
Myth-busting #2
1 McDougall,P. (2011). The Cost and Time Involved in the Discovery, Development and Authorization of a New Plant Biotechnology Derived Trait.
Frank N. Foode™
Myth-busting #3
Myth-busting #4
Farmers choose what seeds to grow based on:
• What is best for their farms
• Local growing environments
• Consumer demand
Many farmers successfully grow, on the same farm, all three
of these crops:
Myth-busting #5
What is a GMO?
GMOs are crops developed with genetic engineering,
a more precise breeding technique, that enables
someone to take individual traits found in nature and
transfer them to another plant, or make changes to
an existing trait in a plant.
How We Got Here
Why GMO? SEED IMPROVEMENT
How do we create new and improved varieties of plants? It starts with the seed. Plant breeders and scientists work together to create new varieties to address evolving challenges to farming and changing consumer preferences. Humans have been central in seed improvement for over 10,000 years, and in the last 100 years our understanding of genetics has accelerated and enabled new seed improvement techniques. Compared to earlier methods, breeders can now make improvements to seeds by moving more precisely one or a few genes into a seed.
THIS CHART COMPARES AND CONTRASTSMODERN METHODS OF SEED IMPROVEMENT.
Why GMO?
Insect resistance Season-long protection against target pests, reduces the need for pesticide applications, and lowers input costs.
Drought resistance Ability to grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources.
Herbicide tolerance Fight weeds by applying herbicides only when needed and enabling farmers to use no-till production methods that preserve topsoil, prevent erosion, and reduce carbon emissions.
Disease resistance With GM, the Hawaiian papaya industry was able to recover from the devastating papaya ringspot virus that had crippled the industry.
Enhanced nutritional profile
High-oleic soybeans have been genetically modified to produce oil with more monounsaturated fat, less saturated fat and little-to-no trans fat. Other GM crops are still being developed for nutritional improvement, including Golden Rice, which includes β-Carotene that could deliver vitamin A to children in developing nations.
How is a GMO made?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G-yUuiqIZ0
How is a GMO made?
Who grows GMOs?
How do we ensure that GMOs are safe for use
and consumption?
• GMO crops are studied extensively to make sure they are
safe for people, animals and the environment
• GM seeds take an average of $136 million and 13 years to
bring to market because of research, testing and regulatory
approvals conducted by government agencies in the
United States and around the world.1
1 McDougall,P. (2011). The Cost and Time Involved in the Discovery, Development and Authorization of a New Plant Biotechnology Derived Trait
GMO Safety: Safe to Eat
• GMOs available today are as safe as their non-GMO
counterparts.
• They do not cause new allergies, cancer, infertility, ADHD,
autism or any other diseases or conditions.
• The safety of GMOs has been affirmed by:
GMO Safety: Safe for the environment
Biotech crops have reduced agriculture’s environmental footprint:• Increased yield on current land prevents further deforestation and
protects ecosystems
• Fewer pesticide applications
• No/reduced tillage with GM HT technology means less tractor fuel consumption and emissions
“In 2013, the permanent CO2 savings from reduced fuel use
associated with GM crops was 62 billion pounds. This is
equivalent to removing 12.4 million cars from the road for a year.”
- Graham Brookes, Agricultural Economist, PG Economics Ltd
GMO Safety: Safe to Grow
When testing, researchers look for any difference between the
GM and non-GM plants to make sure the GM variety grows
the same as the non-GM variety.
They are also tested to make sure they
do not unintentionally harm non-target,
beneficial insects, like honey bees and
ladybugs.
What do the GMOs of the future look like?
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